...and the Oscar for Best Actresss goes to..... — Page 2

I saw Diane Keaton the other day in Somethings Gotta Give, and she gives an amazing performance. Definitly deserves to be nominated, if not win.

"We didn't have any The-a-tur in Hot Coffee Mississippi.." Also from BOYS, and so true for many of us, in our Hot Postum, Indiana or Steaming Lipton Minnesota.

I've become more cynical than ever about movies, the big, the bad, and the Miramax-in-December. The "indie spirit" far too often means something made on the cheap that exploits cruelty to human beings in the name of revelation. I'm too old, and every year announce I'd rather stay home and watch "Mildred Pierce" than the artistic work of degredation di giorno. (But I'm not immune to powerful storytelling. I did weep copiously at "House of Sand and Fog" and almost started keening during Kingsley's big scene in the hospital.)

(Waaay OT, vis a vis "Irma Vep": Namo and others, were you a fan of Varla in the mid-90s when she used to do her old show at 88's, now long defnuct? The "lesbian of the week?" I'll never forget those nights. And whassername, Terri White from BARNUM was tendin' bar!

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As for "acting" unglamorous and winning an Oscar...

Ellen Burstyn did that to the most disturbing extent in REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (one of the best screen performances in history), and did not win. Instead, Julia Roberts won for playing... Julia Roberts playing Erin Brockovich. I did not feel her character at all.. as opposed to Burstyn, whose performance still moves me to tears.

Nicole Kidman was okay in THE HOURS, but Streep and Moore were much better and had more screen time. In fact, Moore should have won for FAR FROM HEAVEN (the best film of this young century, IMHO).

Charlize Theron was phenomenal in MONSTER. She gave the best performance I have seen all year and should definitely win the Oscar. It's one thing to wear heavy makeup and put on weight for a film: You have to WORK it in order to really impress people.

My film picks for the year (in case anyone is interested):

Best Picture: LOTR Return of the King
Best Director: Sofia Copolla, LOST IN TRANSLATION
Best Actor: Bill Murray, LOST IN TRANSLATION
Best Actress: Charlize Theron, MONSTER
Best Supporting Actor: Tim Robbins, MYSTIC RIVER
Best Supporting Actress: Renee Zellweger, COLD MOUNTAIN
Best Original Screenplay: Sofia Copolla, LIT
Best Adapted Screenplay: Anthony Minghella, CM

Loved Triplets--saw it the same day as In America (which is probably my fav film of the year).

As for the Oscars, actors are not eligible to be nominated in the same category--therefore, there will always be 5 actresses up for Best Actress. The buzz is definitely between Theron and Keaton, with Theron currently ahead, but will it be a Spacek vs Berry with Theron losing or a Swank vs Bening with Theron winning?

The actresses with the Oscar buzz according to oscarwatch.com on 12/30/03 (in order with top being most likely to win and so forth):

Charlize Theron, Monster|
Diane Keaton, Something's Gotta Give
Nicole Kidman, Cold Mountain
Uma Thurman, Kill Bill
Hope Davis, American Splendor
Evan Rachel Wood, Thirteen
Cate Blanchett, The Missing
Naomi Watts, 21 Grams
Jennifer Connelly, House of Sand and Fog
Samantha Morton, In America
Gwyneth Paltrow, Sylvia
Diane Lane, Under the Tuscan Sun

=)

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I would have voted for Nicole last year. I thought she was great in 'The Hours.' Keep in mind I much prefer Renee as an actress so I'm going against my own tastes in that. I don't think Nicole should have won for 'Moulin' because I think the movie was wretched (and, yes, I realize eight zillion theater fans are about to declare me a blasphemer ... again.) If memory serves me (and it very well might not) I think 'Moulin' came out the same year as that ghost flick Nicole did ('The Others?') She was much better in that and it was a better movie (not a great movie, but still better than 'Moulin Rouge.')

If Keaton wins, well, won't that be annoying? Connelly's great and I've heard nothing but raves for Theron and Watts.

Renee will probably win because she's a marvel in 'Cold Mountain.' They went twenty years without giving Al Pacino an award, I don't think the Academy is that concerned about what they 'owe' Renee at this point.

Updated On: 12/31/03 at 08:51 AM

First, Auggie, thanks for the succinct phrase that I will now incorporate into my vocabulary: "and the Miramax-in-December." I usually spend paragraphs explaining that phenomenon. And THIS made me LOL: "and almost started keening during Kingsley's big scene in the hospital."

And, bway86? With this you went directly to my New Best Friends List: "In fact, Moore should have won for FAR FROM HEAVEN (the best film of this young century, IMHO)."

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We continue OT, but it's all about the movies, so why not?

I'm in sync with Bway and Namo about Moore in FAR FROM HEAVEN. You can't compare what she did and Kidman's brief HOURS work. Moore -- playing a basically bewildered, forced-to-be-passive character, carried her film. She couldn't "drive" any scene, but had to incrementally move the story forward, reacting to others. I have continued to marvel at HEAVEN's quiet power, watching the DVD. Also, I think Quaid was pitifully overlooked, failing even to get an Oscar nomination. He was daringly non-PC, and didn't fall prey to the George Hearn syndrome ("Look at me, so courageous for playing a homo!"). I consider HEAVEN sort of A DOLL'S HOUSE filtered through the 50s technicolor prism--so underappreciated, because of the Sirk hommage elements. I am consistently awed by the consistency of tone. It starts thisclose to John Waters turf, but never goes there,never provokes an unwanted laugh. Then there's the Agnes Moorhead-esque work of Patrician Clarkson. Wonderful movie.

Anybody else wowed by Shohreh Aghdashloo in HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG? This is a stunning piece of acting that will likely go unnoticed, since she's Iranian and not even billed. I can't shake her from my psyche. And she barely speaks. She has moments with both Kingsly and Connelly that are lessons in subtext.

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Nice post, Auggie.

"Which will make her the Julianne Moore of 2004. Nominated in leading and supporting, winning neither. Shame."

(sobs) Don't remind me. I will never be *not* upset about that. Two amazing performances.

I actually haven't gotten to see all the films yet. I really do want to catch Diane Keaton in "Something's Gotta Give", I heard she's great (not surprised at all, though) plus "Lost in Translation" and "Cold Mountain" among others. I was hoping to see them this week but I've been home sick

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Bronte, I'm glad someone else agrees with me. Julianne Moore should have won for Safe, Boogie Nights and Magnolia anyway, so I was willing her to pull off a coup and win both her categories. But I knew it wouldn't happen.

The one thing that is amazing me is the complete lack of recognition for Marcia Gay Harden's quietly devestating and totally masterful performance in Mystic River. She should win every award going for that, but so far I don't think she's even been nominated.

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I really enjoyed Renee's performance. She reminded me of Marilyn Monroe through her nuances and mannerisms during her numbers. Oh well. Everyone's different I suppose.

Julianne is an exceptional actress. AN IDEAL HUSBAND, anyone? Yes, THE HOURS. In FAR FROM HEAVEN she was good in a vapid film however that was all style over substance.

I share John's sentiments about MOULIN ROUGE another example of style of substance and Nicole was better in THE OTHERS. In THE HOURS she looked awfully uncomfortable in that false nose puffing on those cigarettes and not doing much else, in my opinion. She was excellent in her earlier film about the young killer--what was that title?

Why does Hollywood believe that smoking endless cigarettes and looking pained in a film is an example of brilliant screen acting?

As for THE HOURS Meryl was tops, along with Ed Harris.

Broadway Bulldog

which actress? i think u mean nicole kidman in "to die for"but i'm not sure??

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